This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

How about this for one of the most unlikely career paths for a rapper you'll ever hear: Hoodie Allen studied finance and marketing at The Wharton School at the Ivy League school University of Pennsylvania, and after graduating worked at Google in northern California before quitting to focus on music full-time.

"This has always been the goal," said Allen in a phone interview. "When you have nothing, you can't call it a goal  it's more like a dream."

Allen, who took time from vocal rest to talk to The Tribune, is touring in support of "All American," the second EP he has released, and which debuted as the No. 1 album on iTunes.

The New York state native, who is a true songwriter in that he doesn't use other people's music to sample, enjoys touring as part of the perks of his career. "My job lets me travel to places like Salt Lake City," Allen said.

"It's great to see diverse places ... In New York, everyone has an aggressive attitude. Everyone else is so nice."